Retired educator Gary Shiffrin has been playing the part of Santa Claus for almost three decades. His appearances include nursing homes, children's institutions, hospitals and private homes.

Written by

Lyn Dowling
For FLORIDA TODAY

Santa Claus lives on a quiet street in a golf course community in Viera. You can tell by the lights, the flag, the lawn display. Inside it's even more festive, with a tree, a Christmas village and decorations and ornaments everywhere.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and St. Nicholas smiles at them beneath his flowing beard and luxuriant mustache. When someone points out a nearby blanket that looks curiously non-seasonal - it is black and bears the initials "MI" in gold - Santa positively beams.

This is Santa Claus' house and Merritt Island was Santa Claus' high school. ...